Nozzle holder



Sept. 2l, `1948. E, c. RUMSEY 2,449,719

NOZZLE HOLDER Filed 0st. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTRNEYs 4 Sept. 2l, 1948. E. c. RUMsEY 2,449,719l

NozzLE HOLDER l Filed Oct. 17, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTRNEYS mmf/vfaes resulting in` fatalities.

Patented Sept. 21, 1948 UN iPh'iliilNl. 10F Fl CE NozzLE HOLDER adware o. 'Rumsr', deceased, 'late of Detroit,

Mich., by Lillian Gray Ramsey, lexecutrix, `lle- `troi-t, Mich., assigner to Eillian `Gray Rumsey Applicants .october 17, 194e, 'serial Ne. deseos (Chess-isc) Claims.

Their-mention relates generally to devices for holding fire hose when in operation, and more particularly `to a .novel nozzle holder making it `practicalzlle forioneman safely to handle refhose discharging Water underexceedingly high press sure. Y

The nezzleend of a iire hose when discharging water at high pressure is an exceedingly diflicult and dangerous thing .to handle. The hack pressure createdbythe water Yexertsa ,powerful backward force, making it 4difflcultto move Vthe hose A'forwardly and causing the hose to whip about, -so` that fin many cases serious `injuries have been suffered by firemen, in some instances Inorder to handle a high pressure nozzle, the services ci" as many asth'ree firemen areordinar'ily required, and .even then the danger is notovercome. j X

Because of suchconditions, some departments have strapped` the nozzle end of a re `hose to a board havingarear spike attached theretofor digging yinto the ground, so as toassi'st 'the renien in holding the Uhosein position, lout "such expedient is at best a make-shift arrangement,

because :the hoard isheavy and cumbersome ,to handle and lto carry on iireapparatus, and 'is also diiiicult and awkward -to attach thehose,'thus 1requiring eiicessive time when every secondisfimportant. Accordingly, :itis an object of the present-invention lto provide a novel nozzle holder which ygreatly facilitates handling and advancing fire hose `while itis discharging water under pressure. VAnother object is .to provide a novel nozzle holder which enables one manto handle a ,nre Vhose operatingat high pressure. ,l

A furtherroloject `is to provide a novel and improved -nozzle holder which may `he set on 'the Vground-for selfsupport`ing 'ahoze nozzle in a desiredposition while discharging water.` J

Another .Objectis to provide a novel.' nozzle holder which 'is adjustahleto elevate `the"hose nozzle or tosswing it laterally.

Another object is to .provide `a novel nozzle holder which `is adapted to direct a nozzle iinA a desired operating `position when held byfOne 'or by two men, and which provides ready gripping handles for handling and advancing the hose Vunder pressure.

A further Vobject is to provide Y'a novel vand 'iin- .proved 'nozzle holder which digs itself `intoft'he ground under 'the pressure from thehose forfprolvidin'g additional support; U V

'A 'still .further object is `to provide a novel spa'ce for being transported on fire apparatus, and whichf'is quickly and easilyunfoldedand attached to the-hose at the scene of a're.

` These and lother objects are accomplishedhy the parts, improvements, combinations and arrangements l`comprising the present invention, a pref erredV embodiment of which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the attached specication; the constructions, combinations and sub-combinations comprising the present invention, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled'in the art, being set forth in the appende'dclaims.

In general terms, the nozzle holder comprising the'present invention may be stated as including a "longitudinalI center bar and two spaced-apart pairs of arms hinged to the -center bar, fthe varms beinggprovided with caulks at their outer ends and'th'ehar being provided with a rear spike, for providing a five-pointsupport'when unfolded, an armpivotally connected at its rear end to an intermediate portion of the center bar for upward and lateral swinging m'ovemfentof its frontend, "and apair of jaws tforming la hose ksupport on the "front vend of said arm-` Referring to the 'drawings forming part hereof, Figure 1 isa top plan view'of the improved nozzle holder in unfolded or expanded position, withthe hose holder jaws lowered;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View `of the holder in cornpletely folded position;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional'view as on line 3-3, Fig. l., showing the jaws in open position;

Fig. 4 is `an enlarged fragmentary 4bottom plan view `showing the :connection of 'the front pair `of arms with'the center bar.;

Figi 5 is a -side `Aelevation of :the Ah'olderin `cornpletelyfoldedpo'sition, as in Fig. 2;

"Fig 6 is aside elevationof the holder in folded positionand held in upwardly inclined position l square or rectangular incross section andfm'ay lbe hollow l'as shown in lFig. "3 to save weight. -At its `rearend the jpar 4l Il is preferably provided with a spike `N lw'hich'is directed rearwardly -down- "wardV-for-'digging into the 4'ground iwhen the bar is horizontal as in Fig. or held in an upwardly inclined position as in Fig. 6. The front end of the bar may have a ring I2 projecting therefrom for facilitating hanging the holder out of the way when not in use, and the underside of the front end of the bar may have a rearwardly directed hook I3 for hanging the holder on the rung of a ladder or other support when the holder is in use.

A pair of arms I4 is pivoted to the center bar I9 preferably adjacent to its front end, as at I5, for extending laterally at right angles to the bar I9 as shown in Fig. 1 or folding alongside the bar I@ as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The arms I4 preferably have downturned sharp hardened steel caulks I6 at their outer ends for digging into the ground, and may be made of hollow tubing to obtain minimum weight. As shown, the inner ends of the arms I4 may be secured as by welding to the inside of U-shaped straps I1, the ends of which overlap and are pivotally mounted on the pivot bolt I5. Asshown in Fig. 4 the straps II are connected by a spring I8 which yieldingly holds the arms I4 in the folded position of Figs. 2 and 4, and when the arms are unfolded to the position of Fig. 1, the spring moves over the center I5 so as to yieldingly hold the arms in the unfolded position.

.A second pair of arms I9 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion cf the center bar Iii to a point spaced from the pivot I5, and as shown in Fig. 1, the arms may be pivoted at their inner ends to a disc 20 which is mounted on top of the center bar-I0 by a bolt 2I. The arms I9 have sharp hardened steel caulks I 9a at their outer ends and are preferably made of hollow tubing the same as arms I4. The arms I9 have curved angles 22 pivoted at their rear ends to intermediate portions of the arms, as at 23, and the angles are pivoted at their front ends by pivots 25 to a sleeve member 24 which is slidable on the center bar.

The curved angles 22 are substantially quarter circles, so that they provide a substantially semi- Y circular track when the arms I9 are unfolded to extend laterally of the bar I0, as best shown in Fig. 1.A A stop pin 26 is provided on the top surface of center bar I0 for limiting the forward movement of the sleeve 24 to stop the unfolding movement of the arms I9 when they are at right angles to the center bar I9.

The means for supporting the nozzle end of a hose on the nozzle holder preferably includes a U-shaped bracket 21 which is pivotally mounted on top of the disc 20 by the bolt 2| for swinging about the bolt 2i as a vertical pivot. To the upper ends of the U-shaped bracket are plvotally attached, as at 28, the rear ends of forwardly extending hose supporting legs 29, the front ends of which are secured as by welding to the upper ends of a lower substantially semi-circular jaw 39.

An upper jaw 3| is hinged at 32 to one end 30a of the lower jaw 30, for swinging open in the position of Fig. 3, to admit the hose, and other end of the jaw 3| has a notched tongue 33 which ts into a suitable socket on the opposite end 30h of the lower jaw l3l). Means for securing the jaws in closed position is a spring pressed plunger 34 of well-known construction mounted on the lower jaw 39 and having an end normally engaging one of the notches in tongue 33 in its closed position. On the underside of the lower jaw :39

a downwardly open clevis 35 is preferably proj vided for engaging over the front end of the cen- -4 ter bar I0 when the legs 29 and jaws 30 and `3| are folded with the legs 29 substantially parallel to the center bar I0 as shown in Figs. 2, 5 and 6. Means for clamping the clevis 35 to the center bar I0 may include a spring pressed plunger 36 of well-known construction' mounted on the clevis 35 and adapted for engagingin a hole in the side of the bar, in a usual fashion.

The means for holding the legs 29 and jaws 30 and 3| in any desired upwardly inclined position` when swung upwardly about the pivots 23 preferably includes a knee brace having the fixed horizontal member 3I and the movable member 38 hinged thereto at 39. The other end of the member 31 is secured, preferably by welding, to one leg of the bracket 2l, and the outer end of the movable member .38 is pivoted at 4U to a split friction clamp 4I which is slidable on the adjacent leg 29. A handle 42 is screwed through the ends of the clamp 4I, so that by tightening the handle 42 Ythe clamp will grip the leg 29 to hold the same in any inclined position varying from the horizontal position of Fig. 5 through the position of Fig. 7 to aposition wherein the legs 29 are substantially vertical or at right anglesto the center bar I0. f

The legs 29 aswell as the members 3l and 38 of the knee brace are preferably made of tubing so as to obtain minimum weight of the holder,V

and `thus enable iteasily to be handled in trans,- porting it from place to place on re apparatus, and Y.in attaching it to the nozzle end of the hose line and moving the hose line into a desired position. y

In operation, the nozzle end of a fire hose may be inserted in the jaws 3G and 3l and the jaws clamped shut by the spring plunger 34. If it is desired. to have the hose held in a particular operating position Yby the holder, the arms I4 and I9 are unfolded to be substantially right angles to the center bar, as shown in Fig. l. The plunger 36 is then pulled out to release the clevis 35 and the jaws 3i) and 3i raised to elevate the hose to the desired angle, at which point the handle 42 is screwed inwardly to tighten the clamp 4I around the arm 2,9. In such position, if the holder is laid fiat on the ground, it will support the hose for discharging water, without being held by a fireman, as indicated in Fig. 7.

In this position, the hose may be swung to the right or left about the pivot 2l, and for this purposea foot 43 is provided on the underside of the xed member 3I of the knee brace for sliding on top of the curved angles 22 as the hose nozzle swings laterally of lthe holder. line is to be reset to another location, two men, one on each side of the holder can grasp the arms I4 and I9 and carrythe holder forward with the hose line under pressure, and when the holder is thrown down in a new location, it will immediately dig itself into the ground bymeans of the caulks I6 and I9a and the spike II.

If the terrain is such that it is difficult to engage all four of the points I6 and I9a in the ground, the arms I9 can be folded alongside the center bar II), so that the points I6 and the spike I I will dlg in to provide a three point support.

If the hose nozzle is to be constantly moved about by one or two men, the clevis 35 is .left secured to the center bar and the hose positioned in the jaws 30 and 3|. The holder is then raised to an inclined position such as shown in Fig. v6, with the spike II digging into the ground, and in this position the holder may be held by` one man if desired, because the force of the back pressure When the hose is resisted by the spike engaging the ground. To facilitate holding the holder in this position, one or both of the arms I4 may be unfolded or swung outwardly.

When the novel holder is folded and not in use, it is very compact and easily carried by one man. Moreover, it occupies very little carrying space on re apparatus, which is an important feature because modern apparatus is required to carry :much auxiliary equipment.

Thus, the improved nozzle holder is adapted for self-supporting a hose line in operation for adjustably directing the nozzle in various positions; for enabling one man to handle a re hose operating at high pressure; and for being gripped at opposite sides by two men for advancing or relocating the nozzle during operation.

The embodiment of the present improved nozzle holder is illustrated and described herein by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction of the various parts.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are utilized for descriptive purposes herein and not for the purposes of limitation, and are intended to be broadly construed.

Having now described the features of the'invention, the construction, arrangement and use of a preferred embodiment thereof, and the advantageous, new and useful results obtained by the improved construction, the new and useful devices, constructions and combinations, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

It is claimed:

1. Nozzle holder construction including a longitudinal center bar, a spike on the rear end of said center bar, a pair of arms hinged to said center bar adjacent its front end for folding alongside the bar and extending at right angles thereto, a hose supporting leg pivotally connected at its rear end to an intermediate portion of said center bar for swinging upward therefrom, jaw means on the front end of said leg for hold--` ing a hose, means detachably connecting said jaw means to the front end of said center bar, and means mounted on said center bar for holding said leg in upwardly adjusted position.

2. Nozzle holder construction including a longitudinal center bar, a spike on the rear end of said center bar, a pair of arms hinged to said center bar adjacent its front end for folding alongside the bar and extending at right angles thereto, a bracket pivoted on an intermediate portion of said center bar for swinging laterally about a vertical pivot, a hose supporting leg pivoted at its rear end on said bracket for swinging upwardly, jaw means on the front end of said leg for holding a hose, and a folding knee brace connected at its rear end to said bracket and having a, clamp connection at its front end with said hose supporting leg for holding it in upwardly adjusted position.

3. Nozzle holder construction including a longitudinal center bar, a spike on the rear end of said center bar, a pair of arms hinged to said center bar adjacent its front end .for folding alongside the bar and extending at right angles thereto, a bracket pivoted on an intermediate portion of said center bar for swinging laterally about a vertical pivot, a hose supporting leg pivoted at its rear end on said bracket for swinging upwardly, jaw means on the front end of said leg for holding a hose, means detachably connect-l ing said jaw means to the front end of said center bar, and a folding knee brace connected at its rear end to said bracket and having a clamp connection at its front end with said hose supporting leg for holding it in upwardly adjusted position.

4. Nozzle construction including a longitudinal center bar, a spike on the rear end of said center bar, a pair of folding arms hinged to an intermediate portion of said bar for extending at right angles thereto, curved track members pivoted at their rear ends to intermediate portions of said folding arms and having a sliding connection at their front ends with said center bar, a hose supportingr leg pivoted at its rear end to an intermediate portion of the center bar for lateral and upward swinging movement, jaw means on the front end of said leg for holding a hose, and means mounted on said center bar for 5. Nozzle construction including a longitudinal center bar, a spike on the rear end of said center bar, a pair of folding arms hinged to an intermediate portion of said bar for extending at right angles thereto, curved track members pivoted at their rear ends to intermediate portions of said folding arms and having sliding connection at their front ends with said center bar, a bracket pivoted on an intermediate portion on said center bar for swinging laterally about a vertical pivot, a hose supporting leg pivoted at its rear end on said bracket for swinging upwardly therefrom, means on the front end of said leg for holding a hose, a rear brace member secured at its rear end to said bracket and extending forwardly therefrom, a front brace member pivoted at one end to the forward end of said rear member and having a sliding clamp connection at its other end with said hose supporting leg, a foot on said rear member slidably supported on said curved track members.

LILLIAN GRAY RUMSEY, Administrator of the Estate of Edward C'. Rumsey, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 687,929 Whitaker Dec. 3, 1901 929,392 Cole July 27, 1909 949,327 Meskill Feb. 15, 1910 1,667,342 Blaw Apr. 24, 1928 

